It is characterised by this very high central ridge, with black lines in the shape of an almond around it. Four small black lines radiate out from it in opposite directions and at right angles to each other. It is also found all over the Maldives, and is identical externally, but it is not found, for instance, in the Red Sea or Arabian seas. Biogeography is marvellous!

If the rhinophores were extended they would have been completely red. By contrast, Phyllidiopsis pipeki has half pink/half black rhinophores and compound pustules (the pustules are simple in Phyllidiopsis shireenae).

With the exception of some species that have direct development, most opisthobranchs are very variable in pattern and also in colour so it takes a while to get used to looking and knowing the fact that just because one appears a bit different it might be a new species. Very few nudibranchs , even of the same species are exactly the same pattern, each is an individual as are most things in nature.